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2006 Chrysler PT Cruiser

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2006 Chrysler PT Cruiser
Crash-test image: National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), U.S. Department of Transportation.

The Verdict

Worst problem area

Electrical

Electrical leads by volume: 153 of 373 complaints (41%) mention it. Complaints mentioning Transmission & Drivetrain include more deaths (1) than those mentioning any other identified area.

Complaints filed rose from 256 in 2005 to 373 in 2006.

Data last changed . Sources: NHTSA complaints and recalls, EPA fuel economy data. Methodology

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Cost, Fuel Economy & Complaint History

Fuel cost, fuel economy, and complaint history by model-yearScroll sideways to see all 5 years. Fuel figures show the range across trims for years with more than one EPA-rated configuration.
Category20042005200620072008vs. 2006 Sport Utility Vehicle - 2WD
Annual fuel cost ($)2,850–4,1002,850–4,1002,850–4,1002,850–4,1002,700–3,700
Combined MPG19–2219–2219–2219–2221–23
City / Highway MPG17–19 / 24–2617–19 / 24–2617–19 / 24–2617–19 / 24–2618–21 / 24–26
CO₂ tailpipe (g/mi)404–468404–468404–468404–468386–423
Complaints filed217256373155115Not compared
Recalls issued35100Not compared
Crash-involved complaints1615351811Not compared
Fire-involved complaints1513636Not compared
Injuries reported1824252314Not compared
Deaths reported30100Not compared
Configurations compared48844

Not compared: this database has no vehicle sales or registration figures, so a raw count mostly reflects how many were sold, not how safe the vehicle is.

Common questions

How many recalls does the 2006 Chrysler PT Cruiser have?

1 NHTSA recall campaign as of Sep 16, 2026. Check your VIN with NHTSA to see whether one applies to your car.

What is the most common complaint about the 2006 Chrysler PT Cruiser?

Electrical: 153 of 373 NHTSA complaints (41%) mention it.

What gas mileage does the 2006 Chrysler PT Cruiser get?

EPA rates it 19–22 MPG combined across 8 configurations.

How much does it cost to fuel a 2006 Chrysler PT Cruiser?

EPA estimates $2,850–$4,100 a year in fuel costs, using EPA's assumptions.

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EPA-Rated Configurations (8)

Every EPA-rated configuration on this page, one row each.A number tagged (low) or (high) is this page’s own cost-table figure of that name, above.
ConfigurationTransmissionCylindersDisplacementDrivetrainFuel TypeVehicle ClassCityHighwayCombinedAnnual Fuel CostCO₂
Configuration 1Automatic 4-spd42.4LFront-Wheel DrivePremiumSport Utility Vehicle - 2WD17 mpg (low)24 mpg (low)19 mpg (low)$4,100 (high)468 g/mi (high)
Configuration 2Automatic 4-spd42.4LFront-Wheel DriveRegularSport Utility Vehicle - 2WD19 mpg (high)24 mpg (low)21 mpg$2,950423 g/mi
Configuration 3Manual 5-spd42.4LFront-Wheel DrivePremiumSport Utility Vehicle - 2WD19 mpg (high)25 mpg21 mpg$3,700423 g/mi
Configuration 4Manual 5-spd42.4LFront-Wheel DriveRegularSport Utility Vehicle - 2WD19 mpg (high)26 mpg (high)22 mpg (high)$2,850 (low)404 g/mi (low)
Configuration 5Automatic 4-spd42.4LFront-Wheel DrivePremiumSport Utility Vehicle - 2WD17 mpg (low)24 mpg (low)19 mpg (low)$4,100 (high)468 g/mi (high)
Configuration 6Automatic 4-spd42.4LFront-Wheel DriveRegularSport Utility Vehicle - 2WD19 mpg (high)24 mpg (low)21 mpg$2,950423 g/mi
Configuration 7Manual 5-spd42.4LFront-Wheel DrivePremiumSport Utility Vehicle - 2WD19 mpg (high)25 mpg21 mpg$3,700423 g/mi
Configuration 8Manual 5-spd42.4LFront-Wheel DriveRegularSport Utility Vehicle - 2WD19 mpg (high)26 mpg (high)22 mpg (high)$2,850 (low)404 g/mi (low)

Complaints by Category

Complaints by category, in the same fixed order on every page
CategoryComplaintsCrash-InvolvedFire-InvolvedInjuriesDeaths
Engine1025200
Transmission & Drivetrain305001
Fuel System170000
Electrical1533100
Brakes313000
Steering212110
Suspension, Wheels & Tires181000
Airbags & Restraints40220210
Driver Assistance & Speed Control90000
Body, Seats & Latches235150
Visibility & Lighting651100
Other203150

A complaint that names more than one category is counted in each, so the rows can add up to more than the total number of complaints.

Recalls (1)

  • VISIBILITY:GLASS, SIDE/REAR · Campaign 07V149000 · Apr 4, 2007

    Defect: ON CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES, THE REAR QUARTER GLASS ATTACHING FASTENERS MAY PULL THROUGH THEIR MOUNTS AND ALLOW THE GLASS TO SEPARATE FROM THE VEHICLE.

    Consequence: IF THE GLASS SEPARATES WHILE DRIVING, IT COULD STRIKE ANOTHER VEHICLE OR INJURE A PEDESTRIAN.

    Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE REAR QUARTER GLASS. THE RECALL BEGAN ON APRIL 30, 2007. OWNERS MAY CONTACT DAIMLERCHRYSLER AT 1-800-853-1403.